[Info-vax] What is VMS?

[seasoned_geek]

On Dec 21, 7:26 pm, Arne Vajhøj <a... at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
> On 12/20/2011 1:40 PM, seasoned_geek wrote:
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> > On Dec 20, 2:33 am, John Wallace<johnwalla... at gmail.com>  wrote:
> >> On Dec 19, 10:48 pm, seasoned_geek<rol... at logikalsolutions.com>
> >> wrote:
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> >>> On Dec 18, 8:51 am, Skip Morris<mor... at skip.net>  wrote:
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> >>>> On Dec 17, 9:47 pm, seasoned_geek<rol... at logikalsolutions.com>  wrote:
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> >>>>> On Dec 11, 6:42 pm, Connor Cooper<rockyc... at gmail.com>  wrote:
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> >>>>>> What is VMS? What is it good for? How come it has the prefix 'Open',
> >>>>>> yet it is not open source? what are some good guides for using it? I
> >>>>>> have already registered for a hobbyist VAX license, but I am not sure
> >>>>>> how I should install it on SIMH. Anyone have anything good to say?
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> >>>>> If you are serious about learning how to develop software and use the
> >>>>> various utilities you should obtain a copy of "The Minimum You Need to
> >>>>> Know to Be an OpenVMS Application Developer".  Of course, I'm biased,
> >>>>> I wrote it.  You can find it at Barnes&  Nobel.
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> >>>> As a long-time VMS geek, I just looked that book up to buy a copy on
> >>>> general principals.
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> >>>> However... the price is $150.  Way too much for casual interest.
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> >>> Um....the list price for a brand new printed version is $90 US.
> >>> Please provide a link where you found someone screwing the public for
> >>> $150.
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> >>> In a couple of months there might be an EPUB version available.  I
> >>> have an individual working on it now.  All attempts made by all
> >>> service providers used by Sony failed in the past, but, I put an
> >>> actual U.S. citizen on it, so, should achieve better results.
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> >> An internet search for this book title plus the word "buy" using a
> >> well known search engine finds two of the first three results are from
> >> the US and UK websites of a well known store which I believe isn't one
> >> of your favourites but is for whatever reason widely used by the
> >> public. The UK website has two suppliers at ~£340 used (both seemingly
> >> from US suppliers) and the US store has one supplier at ~$140 new.
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> >> The other top 3 result is a reference to the book, in the Wikipedia
> >> article on VMS. The article might well be a decent starting point for
> >> Connor's original enquiry about "What is VMS?".
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> > Nobody with the tiniest shred of ethics would even consider doing
> > business with Amazon.com, and now you have a shining example as to
> > why.  It would be interesting to see what happens if someone actually
> > was dim witted enough to order from Amazon.com since I would never
> > fill such an order.
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> The actual sellers claim to have the book in stock.
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> Arne

They _all_ claim that.  Very few actually do.  Back when I used a
distributor, they got pissed one day and started challenging those
"vendors" to produce the books.  Challenge issued either through
Amazon (for those claiming new) and by placing orders for those
claiming used.  Want to know how many orders got filled?  0  The third
party vendors all disappeared for a while.  Now that I don't use a
distributor the Amazon scammers are coming back.

At one time there was some kind of "rule" (LMAOF) that sellers "had to
have the book in hand" before they could list it, so they all just
check that box then scramble to fill an order.  Most of them think
they will be able to order it new via Alibris and that I will blindly
fill the order.  What they don't understand is that I get to see order
destinations and have the option of refusing the order.  When multiple
members refuse your orders for the same reason, Alibris closes your
account.